VCP-DCV vSphere Performance and Scaling Practice Question
This VCP-DCV practice question tests your understanding of vsphere performance and scaling. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A VMware vSphere cluster uses vSphere Fault Tolerance (FT) for a critical virtual machine with 4 vCPUs. The administrator notices increased latency and CPU ready time on the primary VM. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The VM has more than 2 vCPUs, increasing the overhead of deterministic replay.
Option C is correct because vSphere FT for multi-vCPU VMs uses a deterministic record/replay mechanism that can introduce significant overhead, especially with 4 vCPUs. Option A is incorrect because jumbo frames are not a main cause of FT overhead. Option B is incorrect because FT does not use multicast. Option D is incorrect because thin provisioning does not directly affect CPU performance.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The network between the primary and secondary VM uses jumbo frames.
Why it's wrong here
Jumbo frames reduce CPU overhead, not increase it.
✗
The virtual disks are thinly provisioned, causing I/O latency.
Why it's wrong here
Thin provisioning affects storage, not CPU ready time.
✓
The VM has more than 2 vCPUs, increasing the overhead of deterministic replay.
Why this is correct
Multi-vCPU FT VMs have significant performance overhead due to the need to synchronize all vCPUs.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "most likely", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The FT logging traffic is sent over multicast, causing packet loss.
Why it's wrong here
FT uses unicast; multicast is not used.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the VCP-DCV exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which VCP-DCV exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
vSphere Performance and Scaling — This question tests vSphere Performance and Scaling — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The VM has more than 2 vCPUs, increasing the overhead of deterministic replay. — Option C is correct because vSphere FT for multi-vCPU VMs uses a deterministic record/replay mechanism that can introduce significant overhead, especially with 4 vCPUs. Option A is incorrect because jumbo frames are not a main cause of FT overhead. Option B is incorrect because FT does not use multicast. Option D is incorrect because thin provisioning does not directly affect CPU performance.
What should I do if I get this VCP-DCV question wrong?
Identify which VCP-DCV exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely", "primary". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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